Page 15 of Sold to the Fae King (Kings of the Fae Islands 2)

Ember cringed at that. He had no intention of admitting his feelings for Iris to a woman of the flesh.

"Everything," he responded, "I wish not to think again until my mind is clear."

His words caused Jada to smile devilishly, and her hands began to slide down his chest, heading south toward the buckle of his belt.

"I do believe I can help with that, my lord," she promised, her eyes sparkling with delight. She flicked herself up onto her tiptoes, her wings fluttering slightly to aid her, as she pressed her lips to his. The softness of her lips had the intended effect, and Ember felt his manhood beginning to harden.

This is exactly what I need, he told himself, sure that giving in to the physical would help him rid his mind of all desire for Iris. After all, she was simply a warm body for him to slide into, same as this courtesan.

Gritting his teeth, Ember grabbed Jada's hips. Her flesh, exposed by the high slits in her gown, was warm beneath his palms. He breathed in the heady scents of perfume that engulfed her and allowed himself to kiss her back.

This is what I need, he assured himself again, this is simple and uncomplicated.

Yet when he closed his eyes, he realized that it was not Jada's face he saw.

"My king? Is everything alright?" Jada's concerned voice made him open his eyes once more. She had made her way into his pants, her hand cupped around his manhood, and even as she spoke, he realized that he was nowhere near as rock-hard as usual. In fact, he could feel the blood receding from his cock, feel himself going limp.

Was that amusement he saw flash in Jada's eyes? No, it couldn't be. Even a palace courtesan wouldn't be brave enough to laugh in a king's face.

Ember grabbed hold of her wrists and yanked her hands away from his crotch. She gasped in shock and perhaps pain, and Ember realized that he had been much too rough with her.

"I can't do this." He shook his head, released Jada's wrists and took a step away from her. "You should go."

"Have I offended you in some way, my lord?" Jada asked, ignoring his dismissal, "Please, let me make it up to you."

She quickly closed the distance between them, her hand automatically reaching for his manhood again.

"I told you to leave!" Ember snapped at her, half turning away. The hurt that crossed her face caused Ember once more to feel guilty and he groaned through gritted teeth. Never in his life had he been made to feel so guilty or shamed. He added in a softer voice, "Please, just leave."

"Your Grace, I’m sor-" Jada began, though this time she made no move to approach him. Ember quickly raised his palm to cut her off and shook his head.

"No, don't apologize. This isn't your fault. It's mine," he assured her. He quickly crossed the room and pulled open the drawer of his bedside table to remove a few gold coins from a velvet pouch. Throwing them at her feet, he added, "For your trouble."

Looking as though she were still in shock, she dipped into a curtsey and grabbed up the coins, shoving them into the bodice of her gown before she grabbed her robe from where she had left it pooled on the floor.

"Send Filton in on your way out!" Ember called after her and out of the corner of his eye, he saw her nod.

She had been gone no more than a moment when there was another knock at the door and Filton stepped in.

"You requested to see me, my lord?" Filton asked, looking more than a little concerned. "I hadn't expected to be in your presence again for several more hours."

He glanced over his shoulder as though he half expected the courtesan to return and jump back into the king's bed. Ember grimaced at that, knowing that whenever a woman entered his bedchamber, she did not usually leave for several hours, sometimes even days.

"What is wrong with me?" he asked again, this time out loud, though not loud enough for Filton to hear. He ran his fingers through his crimson hair and groaned inwardly, emotional turmoil ripping through his insides.

"Is there something you wish for me to help you with, Your Grace?" Filton asked, his voice filled with awkwardness, unsure as to why he had been requested and Jada dismissed.

"When did Iris leave?" Ember asked. It had been hours since their encounter in her chambers. He expected her to be far from the palace by now.

I'll chase her to the ends of the world if I have to, he realized. His stomach twisting painfully at the thought of the growing distance between them.

"Your Grace?" Filton said the title in a questioning manner, as though he didn't understand the question, yet Ember knew his advisor was not stupid. It was a simple enough question.

"I said, when did Iris leave? Did she give any indication as to where she might be going?" Ember asked. He turned away from Filton, unable to meet the man's gaze for fear that he might see sympathy, or worse, pity.

"My lord, I am unsure as to what you mean," Filton responded and although Ember was not looking at him, he could feel him shaking his head.

"Where is she, Filton?" Ember snarled, turning on his servant and raising his voice in a way he never had before. Filton sometimes angered or irritated him, but never had he caused this much fury to boil up inside of him.

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